Sound reproducer for phonographs and the like



Nov. 8, 1927.

D. R. WELLS 1,648,432

SOUND REPRODUCER FOR PHONOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE Filed Ot. 2, 1925 3Sheets-Sheet l lll lll ||||||||1 11| H Nov. 8, 1927.

D. R. WELLS SOUND REPHODUCER FOR PHONOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE ,Fim @en a,1925 s sneets-snee-z .Zff .4. 32 f2/3Q f/ f C' F' 732 l e zwi Nov. 8,1927.

D. R. WELLS SOUND REPRODUCER FOR PHONOGRAPHS AND THE: LIKE Filed 051;,z, 1925 J5 Sheets-Sheet 5 a. wv

Patented Nov. 8, i927.

entren sr 'EES DANIEL Bi. /VELIJS, 0F BEADNG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOND BEPRODUCER FOB PHONOGRAP-S AND THE LIKE.

Application filed. Getober 2, 1925.

This invention relates to an amplifier for sound reproducing orregenerating machines or devices, and which is more especially intendedfor use on phonographs and more particularly in reproducing musicalrecords, but the essential features of which may also be used inconnection with radio sound reproducers.

Itis well known that many sound boxes or horns at present in use inconnection with the devices such as are above referred to give out harshor metallic sounds, and it is also known that in the reproduction ofmusical records some notes are very imperfectly reproduced while, insome instances, some ne or delicate notes are hardly reproduced at all.This invention has for its object to obviate the objections justreferred to by furnishing a sound reproducer or amplifier which,particularly in the reproduction of musical records, will give out thesounds of the instruments or voices perfectly, just as they wereoriginally produced, preserving the original timbre of the instrumentsor voices. This object is carried into effect by the use of aresonatoror amplier consisting wholly of wood, and which is preferablymounted within a wooden case or cabinet. The resonator or amplifier, inits preferred form, comprises spaced-apart and partly open walls, andthe case or cabinet preferably comprises spaced-apart double walls, theouter walls being preferably of open work or skeleton form, all as willhereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an elevation of a case or cabinetconstructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a planView of the same, with the cover omitted, showing the resonator oramplifier within the case or cabinet. Fig. 3 `is a detail view showing aspecial form of the bottom of the cross member of the resonator oramplifier. Fig. l is a sectional elevation on line 4 4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5is a central longitudinal section on line .5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is asectional elevation on line 6-6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a cross section ofthe resonator or amplifier on line 7-7, Fig. 5. Figs. 8 and 9 areelevations of the inside walls of the case or cabinet. Figs. 10 and 11are detail views showing the connection of the stylus holder with thereso: nator or amplifier.

Referring `to the drawings, the case or cabinet as' herein showncomprises lmitside Serial No. 60,028.

walls 12 preferably of `fretwork or openwork construction, as shown 1nFig. 1, and inside walls 13. The inside and outside or double walls ofthe case or cabinet are spaced apart from each other and are connectedtogether at intervals by blocks 14 and the cabinet is preferably mountedon a stand 15 having suitable legs 16, the cabinet being preferablyraised slightly from the stand by blocks or strips 17 of cork, felt orother nonvibratory material. The inside walls 13 of the case or cabinetare preferably provided with narrow slits 13ZL to increase theresonance, these slits being disposed in different ways and any suitablenumber thereof being provided.

Mounted within. the cabinet is the usual turn-table 18 to receive therecords and which will be operated in any suitable or usual manner by amotor within the housing 19. .Supported on a suitable frame 2O withinthe case or cabinet is the resonator or amplifier which takes the placeof the usual tone armand horn of a phonograph, this resonator oramplifier consisting` of a longitudinal member 21 and a cross member 22.The side walls of the longitudinal member' are spaced apart from eachother, as more clearly shown in Figs. 2, and 7, these spaced-apart wallsbeing connected at intervals at the top and bottom of said member byvertical cross strips 21a, thus affording a hollow member of partlyopenwork. construction. The side walls of the said longitudinal member21 are provided at the portions thereof registering with the crossmember 22 with a series of holes 21". Also, the said side walls of thelongitudinal member preferably have thinned out portions 21c ofirregular shape and at irregular inter-V vals. The top of the crossmember 22 is preferably provided with slits 22 which are shown as beingstraight, but which are not necessarily so, while the bottom 22b of saidcross member is provided with a series of slits 22c which are preferablyshaped and positioned to indicate the outline of the larger part of aviolin. These slits increase the resonance of the thin wooden parts. Thetop and bottom walls of the cross member 22 of the resonator oramplifier are preferably of varying thickness, tapering as shown in Fig.7.

The top and bottom walls of the cross member are spaced a art andconnected t0- getheivat their outer sides byv strips or pieces 22", andthese top and bot-toni Walls being also connected at the inner parts ofsaid members by small bars or props 22e.

The stylus bar 23 connected with cross piece 24.- preiferably glued todisks 25 oit' cork, felt or linen sot Within thinned-out portions of theside Walls of the longitiidinal meniber 2l ot the resonator orampliiier, said stylusbar being preferably mounted between adjustingscrews 26 tapped in lugs 2' on rcominodate itself to the record and mayalso be swung aside when a record is l'to be placed on or removed `fromthe turn-table. The said resonator or amplifier may, ii desired, be.properly balanced on its pivot 3l by a suitable Weight, as 32, oit leador other heavy material.

lt Will be noted that all the parts oit the oase lor cabinet and oi theresonator and ampliiier are of thin Wood or veneer, these parts beingpreferably attached together by glue, thus providing a constructionwhich Will have great resonance Without emitting harsh tones, as hasbeen demonstrated in practice,'and capable of reproducing musical tonesrunning from 32 to 5,000 vibrations perl second. By constructingandmounting the oase or cabinet and the resonator or ampliiier as shown anddescribed the entire structure as shown in F l and 2 becomes a vibratoryresonant body.

One of the side Walls of the longitudinal member 2l of the resonator oramplifier is preferably o'l.3 hard Wood, as maple or birch,

and thefother side Wall is preferably of relativel sott Wood, asred-Wood or fir. ln both of these walls the grain ot the Woot runslengthwise the member. The upper and `lower Walls oi the Cross member 22olif the resonator or ampliiier are preferably olf soit Wood, asred-Wood or tir, with tho grain olf the Wood ruiming orossivise oit thelongitudinal member 2L The invention is not to be understooil asheilig-limited to the particular constructions heroin shown a ddescribed, as these may be varied Widely Within the province oitmechanical skill without departing troni the sfcope ofthe invention asdeiined by the Claims hereunto appended. i i

`Having thus described my vinvention l claim and desire to sec-ure byLetters Patent: lIA resonator or' amplifier, :tor phonographs orthol.ilre,'i0rmed Wholly ot Wood Vand "Comprising hollow' llongitudinal and.cross vmembers each having thin walls, said longitudinal member havingpartly open top and bottom parts, and said cross member having partlyopen sides and ends.

2. A resonator or amplifier, for phonographs or the like. icorniedWholly of Wood and comprising vhollowl longitudinal and cross memberseach having thin iva ls, the cross member extending out on both sides ofthe longitudinal member, l

Y 3. A resonator or ainplitier, v"for phonographs or the liken formedWholly o't yWood land comprising hollow longitudinal and cross memberseach having thin Walls, the

Cross member extending out on vboth sides oi the longitudinal member,one of the side Walls of said longitudinal member being oit hard Woodand Vthe other'wall being of relatively sott Wood, withV the'grain ofthe ivood of both Walls'running lengthwise of said longitudinal member.y

1l. A phonograph having a resonator oi' amplifier formed wiolly of Woodand oomprising hollow longitudinal and cross ineinhers, each having`thin walls, and a stylus'bar connected With the said longitudinalmember.

5. A phonograph having a vresonator or ampliiier formed Wholly oi' Woodand coinprising hollou7 longitudinal and cross members each having thinWalls, anda stylus bar Connected With the Ysaid longitudinalmemlber.,the upper and loi'ver Walls of saidr cross member beingprovided with slits to increase the resonance.

`6. A phonograph comprising a oase =hav ing thin, double, Wooden Wallsthe outer of which is of openivorlr construction, said Walls beingconnected together at intervals, and a resonator or ainpliiier mountedin said oase and also having lthin Wooden Walls and to which resonatoror amplifier al stylus bar is attached.

7. A phonograph comprising a case having thin, double, Wooden Walls theouter ot Which is or openwork eonstruetiomsaid Walls being connectedtogether at intervals and a resonator or amplifier mounted in said caseand also `having thin Wooden Walls and to which resonator or amplifier astylus bar is attached, said r-sonator or ampliiierconsisting oi? hollowlongitudinal and eross inembers the former carrying said stylus bar.

t?. A phonograph comprising a oase :having thin double, ivooden Walls,theoiiter ot ich Yis of yopenwoigli eonstriiotion, and a resonator orannpl-ier mounted vWithin .Said

' oase and havingthin Woodeiiwalls g'avliereby a structure -Whiehv isfivliolly"vibratory is provided; Y 9. A phonograph comprising easelhaving thin, double, wooden' walls, the outer of l which is ofopenworlr construction, and@ resonator or .amplier `mounted within saidoase and havmg thin -Nvooden wa-11s,

resonator or amplier eonsietin'g of longitudinal and cross members ofopenwork construction; whereby an entire vibratory strueture isprovided,and a stylus holder carried by said longitudinal member.

10. A phonograph comprising a oase having thin, double, Wooden Walls,the outer of which is of openworlr construction, and the inner of whichis provided with slits, and a hollow resonator or amplifier mountedWithin said case and having thin Wooden Walls; whereby a structure whichis Wholly vibratory is provided.

. 11. A phonograph comprisingy a ease-having thin, double, Wooden Walls,the outer of which is of openwork construction, and the inner of Whichis provided with slits, and a hollow resonator or amplifier Within saidcase and having thin Wooden Walls, said resonator or amplifierconsisting of longitudinal and cross members of openvvork construction;whereby an entire vibratory structure is provided, and a stylus barcarried by said longitudinal member. v

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature.

- DANIEL R. WELLS.

